Two talented individuals, British movie director, Jacob Sutton, and Italian race and aerobatic pilot, Dario Costa, have combined their passion for aviation and cinema to produce an inspirational short film. We share these two passions and are proud to present: Dreams of Flight.
Excited by the sweeping and sculptural lines of the Namibian dunes, and over a two-year period, we supported Jacob and Dario to plan and execute this remarkable project. The resulting film is a celebration of flight in its purest form.
Jacob was drawn immediately by the cinematic elements of the black plane silhouetted against the majestic dunes, its white smoke trail suspended in the air. Dario’s focus was to fly fast along and above these huge natural sand structures. Their aim to create a film of both beauty and power.
The shoot took place in the Swakopmund dunes. For three days an international crew including Europeans, South Africans and Namibians, worked with multiple cameras to capture the footage. A helicopter crew, a crew on the ground and cameras mounted on the fuselage were used to record the action.
The team used a specially adapted all-black aerobatics plane for the shoot.
Though visually attractive, the matte black wrapping caused the temperature inside the plane to be extremely high.
In addition to exterior temperatures of 40°C (104°F), the team contended with high winds, sand and fog that would roll in from the sea, impairing visibility and creating nearly un-flyable conditions.
What appears wonderfully simple on the surface is full of complexity and is a masterful achievement. The challenges for Dario were manifold. Low air density changed the aerodynamics and reduced engine performance, making this one of his greatest mental and physical challenges to date, with smooth flight proving incredibly difficult. No one before has ever flown an aerobatic plane so close to these dunes with a speed of more than 370Km/h.
“Depth perception over sand is so difficult. I used my experience of low level flying over the snow-capped Alps, and prepared at home by visualizing the scene a thousands of times, over and over in my head,” says Dario.
For Hamilton, the film is both a passion project and a huge achievement. “We are proud to be the force that has finally brought these two creative greats together to make a unique movie sure to inspire others that you can do anything you dream of if you put your mind to it. This is exactly the spirit we live at Hamilton,” says Sylvain Dolla, Hamilton CEO.
About Hamilton
Hamilton was founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. Hamilton watches combine the American spirit with the unrivalled precision of the latest Swiss movements and technologies. Known for its innovative design, Hamilton has a strong foothold in Hollywood, with products appearing in more than 500 films. The brand also boasts a strong aviation heritage. Hamilton is a member of the Swatch Group, the largest watch manufacturer and distributor in the world.
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About Jacob Sutton
Jacob Sutton, born in Bath, England in 1979, is known for his innovative work in photography and film. He began a career as a fashion photographer in the early 2000’s, making a name for himself with work that celebrated movement and form. His work has been featured in magazines such as New York Times, Vogue and Numero. Drawn by the greater narrative and emotional scope of film, he started directing in 2010, finding success with online films such as A-Z of Dance and LED Surfer. The unique tone and energy of this work has led to commissions from brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein and Nike. He is now developing his first feature, spending his time between London and Los Angeles. Jacob Sutton is represented by Art Partner.
About Dario Costa
Dario Costa is a Hamilton ambassador and a qualified aerobatic pilot from more than 12 years. Born in Manchester then moved to Africa and grew up in Bologna (Italy), Dario’s passion for flight followed him during his whole childhood, which led him to qualify as a pilot just aged 16. Dario’s perseverance and his desire to learn drive him to become a race pilot in 2018 by competing in the Red Bull Air Race. He was also the very first and only Italian Red Bull Air Race pilot. Dario has a flying experience on more than 50 types or airplanes, mainly aerobatic machines.
Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Day Date (H77785733)
| Case | 45 mm stainless steel with black PVD coating, screw-down crown |
| Dial | Multi-level black dial with orange details |
| Hands | Hours and minutes hands with Super-LumiNova®
Seconds hand with orange tip |
| Movement | H-30 automatic caliber, 80 hours of power reserve
Day Date display at 9 o’clock |
| Bracelet | Black leather strap with H-buckle |
| Glass | Sapphire with double antireflective coating |
| Water resistance | 10 bar (100m) |
